Guthrie County recently underwent its first jury trial of 2021 and it was unlike any experience most people have seen before, all because of COVID-19.

Guthrie County Attorney Brenna Bird tells Raccoon Valley Radio jury selection is typically done in the main courtroom at the Guthrie County Courthouse, but because of the guidelines of social distancing, she says they had to change the venue.

“Thankfully the baptist church, across the street from the courthouse, generously offered the let the county use their sanctuary for jury selection. As long as the county paid to clean it before and after, which we’re glad to do. Everyone was able to see and hear, and everyone was at least six feet apart.”

Bird says another court requirement was that everyone had to wear a face covering. She notes  after jury selection, the trial then took place inside the main courtroom, where the jury was seated in the gallery. Bird describes another unique aspect that took place during jury deliberation.

“They actually used the courtroom for their jury deliberation. So courthouse staff had to go and cover all the cameras in the courtroom so that no one could see them on video, because there are security cameras usually in court. So that the sheriff’s office can monitor that and make sure that everything is safe in the courtroom. But obviously no one can see or hear a jury’s deliberation and that’s supposed to be secret.”

Bird says she ultimately got a guilty verdict and thanks the jury for their civic duty and making the adjustments that were needed to have their first trial of the year.